t."[1184] This admission, frankly
conceding the necessity of Ohio's action which he had himself forced,
shattered the sincerity of Tilden's disclaimer.

[Footnote 1183: John Bigelow, _Life of Samuel J. Tilden_, Vol. 1, p.
211.]

[Footnote 1184: New York _World_, July 10, 1868.]

Seymour also had difficulty in preserving the appearance of sincerity.
The press claimed that when he saw the nomination coming to him with
the approval of Pendleton's supporters he quickly retired instead of
further insisting upon his declination. This insinuation allied his
dramatic performance with Tilden's tactics, and he hesitated to expose
himself to such a compromising taunt. In this emergency Tilden
endeavoured very adroitly to ease his mind. "My judgment is," he wrote
a mutual friend, "that acceptance under present circumstances would
not compromise his repute for sincerity or be really misunderstood by
the people; that the case is not analogous to the former instances
which have made criticism possible; that the true nature of the
sacrifice should be appreciated, while on the other hand the opposite
course would be more likely to incite animadversion; that, on the
whole, acceptance is the best thing. I think a decision is necessary,
for it is not possible to go through a canvass with a candidate
declining. I am sincerely willing to accept such action as will be
most for the honour of our friend; at the same time my personal wish
is acceptance. You may express for me so much on the subject as you
find necessary and think proper."[1185]

[Footnote 1185: John Bigelow, _Life of Tilden_, Vol. 1, p. 212.]

On August 4, when Seymour finally accepted, he neither apologised nor
explained. "The nomination," he wrote, "was unsought and unexpected. I
have been caught up by the overwhelming tide which is bearing us on to
a great political change, and I find myself unable to resist its
pressure."[1186] Those who recalled the Governor's alleged tortuous
course at Chicago and again at Albany in 1864 did not credit him with
the candour that excites admiration. "Such men did not believe in the
sincerity of Seymour's repeated declinations," said Henry J. Raymond,
"and therefore accepted the final result with the significant remark,
'I told you so.'"[1187] Horace Greeley was more severe. "The means by
which Horatio Seymour obtained his nomination," he wrote, "are
characteristic of that political cunning which has marked his career.
The whole affair